Kazmir to face Rox

TUCSON — Amazing how modern technology works. Here the Angels’ bus hasn’t hit the outskirts of Tucson and we already know who’s in their lineup.

Hot off the cyberpresses, sports fans, your Halos by the numbers …

1. Maicer Izturis, 2B

2. Jeff Mathis, C

3. Juan Rivera, RF

4. Brandon Wood, 3B

5. Robb Quinlan, LF

6. Terry Evans, CF

7. Freddy Sandoval, 1B

8. Gary Patchett, SS

9. Scott Kazmir.

Let me guess. If Gary Patchett ever becomes a big-name player, Chris Berman will refer to him as Gary Patchett and the Union Gap. By the way, can you name the biggest hit ever by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap? It’s in the next paragraph, but you can’t peak.

That would be Woman Woman.

On a more serious note, Jason Giambi is hitting in the three hole for the Rockies. Why? Because Kazmir, a left-hander, is on the mound and Jim Tracy wants to get Giambi some more looks against lefties.

You know it’s going to happen. Giambi is going to come to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the late innings, and the opposing manager is going to come with a lefty out of the bullpen.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.